食くいつく

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

bite at; snap at; nibble

Describes an animal or person biting or snapping at something, often with a sense of latching on. Compare 食らいつく for a more aggressive bite.

See also: 食らい付く

• 犬いぬが骨ほねに食くいついた。

  The dog snapped at the bone.

• 魚さかなが餌えさに食くいつく瞬しゅん間かんが好すきだ。

  I love the moment when a fish bites at the bait.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

jump at; seize eagerly; get one's teeth into

Metaphorical use: eagerly taking an opportunity, offer, or topic. Often used with 話, 誘い, チャンス, etc.

See also: 食らい付く

• 彼かれはその仕し事ごとの話はなしにすぐ食くいついた。

  He immediately jumped at the job offer.

• 面おも白しろい話わ題だいに食くいついて、ずっと話はなし込こんだ。

  We got our teeth into an interesting topic and talked for a long time.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

hold on to; cling to; stick to

Used when someone refuses to let go of something, physically or figuratively. Often implies tenacity or stubbornness.

• 子こ供どもが母はは親おやの腕うでに食くいついて離はなれない。

  The child clung to his mother's arm and wouldn't let go.

• 彼かれは自じ分ぶんの意い見けんに食くいついて、絶ぜっ対たいに譲ゆずらなかった。

  He stuck to his opinion and absolutely refused to budge.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

complain; bicker; find fault

Used when someone persistently complains or nitpicks, often in a quarrelsome way. Often appears as 食いつくように言う or similar.

• 彼かれは細こまかいミスに食くいついて、なかなか許ゆるしてくれなかった。

  He kept complaining about the small mistake and wouldn't easily forgive me.

• 会かい議ぎで同どう僚りょうが私わたしの提てい案あんに食くいついてきた。

  My colleague started bickering about my proposal at the meeting.